2002 Ford FOCUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
939 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
53,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 604 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 124 of 939 complaints (13.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 117 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 105 | 11.2% |
| Steering behavior | 98 | 10.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 60 | 6.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 57 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 52 | 5.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 124 |
| Electrical System | 76 |
| Tires | 52 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 51 |
| Suspension | 45 |
| Air Bags | 37 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 34 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 31 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 124; Electrical System: 76; Tires: 52; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 51; Suspension: 45; Air Bags: 37; Engine And Engine Cooling: 34; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 31
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 148 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 134 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 139 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 83 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 74 |
| 150,000 and above | 26 |
Under 25,000: 148; 25,000 to 49,999: 134; 50,000 to 74,999: 139; 75,000 to 99,999: 83; 100,000 to 149,999: 74; 150,000 and above: 26
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (148). 335 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 102 |
| 2003 | 131 |
| 2004 | 155 |
| 2005 | 101 |
| 2006 | 89 |
| 2007 | 52 |
| 2008 | 73 |
| 2009 | 59 |
| 2010 | 45 |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2012 | 26 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2002: 102; 2003: 131; 2004: 155; 2005: 101; 2006: 89; 2007: 52; 2008: 73; 2009: 59; 2010: 45; 2011: 42; 2012: 26; 2013: 15; 2014: 17; 2015: 13; 2016: 7; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 117 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 105 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 98 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001064 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING THE AT 45MPH THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP FOR FIVE MINUTES. PULLING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007807 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
FORD FOCUS ZX5 2002 - DRAMATICALLY POOR HANDLING ON SLIPPERY ROAD SURFACE. ? FAULTY BRAKING SENSOR / ? POOR SUSPENSION / ?? CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL NUMEROUS TIMES ON FLAT EVEN HIGHWAY SURFACE. ON PATCHES OF ICE - BACK END OF CAR VEERS BADLY TO LEFT (SIDEWAYS NOT FRONT END). IN SNOW COVERED SECTIONS BACK END FISHTAILS EXCESSIVELY EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS (20 MPH). FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE BEHAVIOUR ON DRY CLEAR ROAD SURFACE.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007749 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)
WHILE AT A STOPLIGHT, MY 2002 FORD FOCUS ZTS SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE STALL. THE CHECK ENGINE, CHECK BATTERY AND CHECK OIL LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP NOTED ON THE INVOICE THAT THEY HAD CHECKED THE BATTERY AND CHARGE, AND ALL WAS "OK." HOWEVER, WHEN I ASKED THEM WHY IT STALLED AS IT DID, I RECEIVED A SHORT ANSWER THAT THEY "COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING" THAT WOULD LEAD TO THAT. THE STALLING WAS NOT NOTED ON THE REPAIR INVOICE. I'M AFRAID OF THIS HAPPENING AGAIN, PARTICULARLY WHEN COMMUTING. THE FOCUS HAS 15,000 MILES ON I…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020634 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK MY CAR TAKES 2-5 TRIES TO START. AFTER IT STARTS, IT RUNS VERY ROUGH AND FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL...SOMETIMES IT DOES IF I'M AT A LIGHT. I HAVE A STICK SHIFT AND THERE'S NO INDICATION ON THE IDLE THAT IT'S RUNNING LOW. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I'VE HAD IT FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. FORD TELLS ME THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD FORD THEY CAN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM...EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE TOLD ME ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS THAT THEY HAVE. USUALLY THEY DON'T REPLAC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001119 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005805 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
KEY DOES NOT WANT TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN COLD. YOU HAVE TO WRIGGLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE KEY. IT HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE NOTED THE PROBLEM 4 TIMES BUT CAN NOT FIGURE IT OUT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001512 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. TS SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009346 · 2002-05-19 (May 19, 2002)
THE FORD TECH FOUND A SHORT IN THE CABLE FROM THE TANK PRESSURE TRANSDUCER. THE WIRE WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME AND FINALLY SHORTED OUT THE PCM AND EVERYTHING WENT BRAIN DEAD. THEY REPLACED THE PCM AND REROUTED A NEW FUEL TANK SENSOR WIRE AWAY FROM THE FRAME. SO FAR SO GOOD. MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR FOUR WEEKS TOTAL. *TS *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS*762059
Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009346 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002038 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HYDRAULICS CLUTCH WAS BROKE, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 50MPH FROM OREGON TO CALIFORNIA. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013598 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE, STARTER SHORTED AND DESTROYED FLYWHEEL. LATER IT WAS FOUND THAT WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER WAS TAKEN INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE DOOR SEALS. I WAS NOT STOPPED IN THE PUDDLE, ONLY MOVED THROUGH IT. DUE TO THE WATER INCURSION INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE. THEY FEAR ELECTRICAL DAMAGE COULD RESULT. I AM CONCERNED THAT ANYONE GOING THROUGH STANDING WATER (THIS WAS NOT A HUGE PUDDLE) WOULD FIND THEMS…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,155 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013598 at NHTSA ↗